FAIRYTALE is distinguished from other sub-genres by the works’ heavy use of motifs, and often plots, from folklore. They sometimes ignore the standards of world-building common to fantasy as blithely as the tales from which they derive, though not always; stories that use a high fantasy, contemporary, or historical setting, with the world building thus entailed, may also be considered part of those genres.

Sometimes Fairytale borders on the Horror side of Speculative Fiction. In early versions of the stories, the Pied Piper led the children to drown, Red Riding Hood was devoured and digested, and the Little Mermaid died in the sea. Not all fairytales are for kids. Also this subgenre denotes stories of little, winged fairies who are not pleased with human company.